Diaper changing device

ABSTRACT

A diaper changing restraint vest for restraining the upper torso of a child or infant while their diaper is being changed. The restraint provides two chest straps and two shoulder straps which initiate from behind the child. It attaches to, and is meant to be used in conjunction with a stiff unbendable changing pad or table. It can be removed from the changing pad and easily transported to be used on public changing stations. The restraint keeps a child from rolling over or escaping while its diaper is being changed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional application No. 60/557,972 dated Apr. 1, 2004.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For many parents and babysitters, changing an infant or toddler's diaper can prove to be a difficult task. Once an infant learns to roll, they do not remain still during diaper changing, and try to sit up and get away, thereby making the task of diaper changing a multiple-hand job. For instance, when changing the diaper of a child who really wants to escape, one needs to hold the child's shoulders down with two hands, thereby requiring the assistance of a second person to change the diaper. Many parents resort to changing diapers on the floor so that they can use their feet to help hold the child down while changing the diaper. If the child gets away, this can result in a messy and unsanitary situation with fecal matter getting on the carpet. Because most diaper changing tables are raised several feet off the ground, an infant that escapes from its parent's grasp can tumble off the table and sustain injuries.

In an attempt to overcome some of these dangerous or unsanitary problems, straps have been disclosed wherein the infant is partially held into position on the changing table. Examples of such devices may found by reference to DePuy (U.S. Pat. No. 2,846,700), Boudreau (U.S. Pat No. 3,779,540), Eves (U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,258), Hamann (U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,669), Griffin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,951), Sartin (U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,874), Parker (U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,198), and Pat. No. 4,216,951), Sartin (U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,874), Parker (U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,198), and Hayes (U.S. Pat. No. D393561). The DePuy, Griffin, Boudreau, and Eves patents all utilize a single cross-torso strap restraint. A basic version of the mid torso strap is on every changing pad purchased today. Despite its popularity, this system does not provide adequate restraint for an active infant or toddler. It fails to prevent the child from rolling on to his belly, from sitting upright if the strap is located at or below his navel, or from thrusting himself in a head-wise direction. The Hamann patent discloses a separation panel designed to be placed across the child's torso in order to keep the child's arms separated from his lower half. Additionally, it includes ankle straps to separate the child's feet and fasten them to the changing surface. Such a design limits the care-giver's ability to raise the child's lower half from the changing surface in order to clean the child's bottom. The Sartin patent discloses a diaper changing restraint system with a solid back and a chest piece shaped like a tank top that attaches to the back. While the Sartin patent has a four point restraint which holds the child better, it too has disadvantages. The back piece of the device is made to go under a changing pad. Changing pads are longer and wider than a child. The straps on the Sartin device initiate at the top and sides of the pad, preventing the straps from touching the tops of the child's shoulders or the sides of its body. This gives the child ample room to wiggle and the child could potentially completely rotate within the restraint. Consequently the restraint would not perform the job assigned to it of holding down a struggling child. In addition to lack of control, the detachable chest piece would be easily lost leaving the device useless. The Parker patent describes a system similar to the Sartin system with a base, and straps coming off of the base, crisscrossing over the chest. Disadvantages for this device are also similar to that of the Sartin patent in that the straps initiate from the pad, which is larger than the child when it is placed on the pad, preventing a portion of the straps to be in contact with the child and thereby giving the child room for wiggling and rolling. A significant disadvantage to the Parker system is that the straps cross from torso to shoulder. In my significant experience in strapping disabled children in to chairs and wheelchairs for positioning, I have learned that when straps crisscross over the chest and close to the neck, there is risk of the child wiggling, slipping down, and choking or potentially strangling itself This design poses a potential safety risk with the Parker system. One further patent is the Hayes design. It consists of two strap restraints which pin the child's shoulders down to the changing surface at points above each shoulder and below each arm pit. Such restraints against the sensitive area beneath the arms may cause discomfort and aggravation. Furthermore, it provides little room for adjustment for the size of the child. If the child being restrained is too small, the restraints would extend past the shoulder onto the arms, holding the arms down instead of the shoulders. If the child being restrained is too big, the restraints would rub uncomfortably on the back and shoulders.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, the preferred embodiment of this invention describes a device to prevent a child from rolling away while its diaper is being changed. The device is used in conjunction with a stiff changing pad or table. The device has an attachment mechanism that fastens around the changing pad to hold it securely to the pad. The device has two shoulder straps and two chest straps that fasten around the child's chest and over the shoulders. The device is positioned underneath the child so that the four straps come from underneath, come over and around the child, and fasten together in the front using a fastening mechanism such as hook and loop, or buckles. This design holds the child's shoulders securely down to the pad so that the child is not able to initiate a rolling movement. An important factor which is not obvious to people without training in positioning and maintaining positions, and which differentiates this device from other devices is that the straps of this device are initiated from behind the child and then come up and over the shoulders and up and over the chest. Other devices come from directly on the sides or top of the changing pad, and therefore do not have full contact with the child, whereas this device has full contact and gives a strong pull to the shoulders down in to the changing pad. Another option of this device is for it to be sewn directly to the changing pad cover rather than strapped around it. Yet another option of this device is to have it directly attached to the pad and have the chest and shoulder straps out of the middle of the changing pad.

In use, the device is first fastened to the changing pad using the attachment mechanism by buckling it securely and snugly on to the changing pad. With the device open, the child is then placed on top of the device, with arms above the chest straps, and head in between the shoulder straps. The chest straps are then placed across the child's chest and fastened with hook and loop. The shoulder straps are then brought up and over the shoulders and fastened on to the chest straps using hook and loop. The diaper is then changed in the typical fashion with the child securely held in place by the device, unable to roll, wiggle, or squirm away. The device can remain on the changing pad, is adjustable for use with multiple children of different sizes, and cam be easily transported and strapped to public changing stations in restrooms. The device is made out of a soft, washable, cotton material for comfort.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a view of the device in its preferred embodiment with the straps in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view of the device in its preferred embodiment with the straps in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a view of the device in an alternate embodiment with the straps coming out of an opening in a changing pad and being secured directly to the changing pad.

FIG. 4 is a view of the back of the alternate embodiment, and a picture of how the straps secure to the changing pad.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   10 attachment mechanism -   12 buckle -   14 fasteners -   16 first shoulder strap -   18 second shoulder strap -   20 U shaped space -   22 first chest strap -   24 second chest strap -   26 back portion -   28 attachment extension -   30 webbing loops -   32 changing pad -   34 opening

FULL DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the device comprises two chest straps (22, 24), two shoulder straps (16, 18), an attachment mechanism (10), and fasteners (14). The first and second chest straps (22, 24) and the first and second shoulder straps (16, 18) are connected at the back (26) portion. There is an attachment mechanism (10) which is secured to the back portion (26) and has a buckle (12) to fasten the restraint on to a changing pad. The restraint is intended to be used in conjunction with a stiff diaper changing pad. The first shoulder strap (16) and second shoulder strap (18) are positioned next to each other to leave enough space (20) between them for a child's head. Their thickness is such that they fit on a baby's shoulders. The first shoulder strap (16) and second shoulder strap (18) are attached at the back (26) portion. The first chest strap (22) and second chest strap (24) are attached at the back (26) portion and spaced to be positioned directly under a child's arms. The first chest strap (22) and second chest strap (24) are aligned to come together and to removeably fasten together, preferably with hook and loop (14), but can be done with buckles. The first shoulder strap (16) and second shoulder strap (18) are designed to come up over the shoulders and to removeably fasten to the first or second chest strap (22, 24).

In use, the full restraint is fastened to a stiff changing pad using the attachment mechanism (10) and fastening the buckle (12). If being used on a wall mounted public changing station, and the attachment mechanism is not able to go around the changing table, the straps that are attached to the public changing table should be threaded through the webbing loops (30) on the back of the device, fastened, and tightened snugly. This will secure the device to a public changing station. The restraint should be positioned at about the top ⅓^(rd) of the changing pad, leaving enough room for the child's head to rest above the restraint. The child is then placed on top of the open restraint with its arms just above the first and second chest straps (22, 24) and its head between the first and second shoulder straps (16, 18). The first (or second, as order is not important) chest strap (22) is brought over the child's chest, and the second chest strap (24) is brought over the child's chest and fastened via the fasteners (14). The first shoulder strap (16) is brought over the child's shoulder and fastened via the fasteners (14) to the chest straps (22, 24). The second shoulder strap (18) is brought over the child's shoulder and fastened via the fasteners (14) to the chest straps (22, 24). The diaper is then changed in the typical fashion with the child securely held in place by the device, unable to roll, wiggle, or squirm away.

In an alternate embodiment, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first and second chest straps (22, 24) and the first and second shoulder straps (16, 18) are fastened directly to the middle of a changing pad or to a changing pad cover either by stitching securely or by inserting them through an opening (34) in a changing pad as in FIG. 3. This would make it removeable for washing. An attachment extension (28) would be threaded through an opening (34) in a changing pad (32) and attached to the back of the stiff changing pad as in FIG. 4 using fasteners (14) such as hook and loop, snaps, buckles, etc. 

1. A diaper changing restraint for restraining a child while changing its diaper, comprising: a. two chest straps with initiation from behind, or immediately beside the child, b. two shoulder straps with initiation from behind or immediately beside the child, c. an attachment mechanism being webbing and buckle to attach to a changing pad, or could be sewn directly to pad or pad cover, or be secured through an opening in the pad, d. a fastening means on the two chest straps and the two shoulder straps to hold said chest straps together over the chest, and to hold said shoulder straps securely on said chest straps, and is releasable.
 2. A diaper changing restraint as in claim 1, wherein the two chest straps and the two shoulder straps are designed to be releaseably secured to each other allowing the two chest straps to come together and be secured, and the two shoulder straps to come together and be secured to the two chest straps.
 3. A diaper changing restraint as in claim 1, wherein said fastening means is comprised of hook and loop and/or buckles.
 4. A diaper changing restraint as in claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism is comprised of webbing and buckle, being directly sewn on to a changing pad or changing pad cover, or coming out through an opening in the middle of a changing pad and secured at the back with hook and loop or snaps.
 5. A diaper changing restraint as in claim 1, wherein said chest straps and said shoulder straps are comprised of a flexible material that easily conforms to the child's body.
 6. A diaper changing restraint as in claim 1, wherein said restraint provides a 4 point restraint with the initiation of the 4 straps from behind or immediately beside the user, which maintains full contact with the user at all times, for securing the user. 